room of it, so that all the city may behold in what manner I lead my life."

XIV. Doing God Service. MATT. V. 10.

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they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

The

AT a distance from Edinburgh there lived a proprietor, in whose family there was a favourite daughter. Immediately before the Disruption, she had been awakened and brought to the saving knowledge of Christ, under a series of sermons which accidentally, as men would say, she had the opportunity of hearing. As the minister whose words had reached her heart was one of those who afterwards formed the Free Church, she was naturally led to examine the questions then in debate. After a course of reading and prayerful consideration, she adopted the principles of the Free Church, and resolved to become a member. announcement of her determination called forth a degree of anger which none could have anticipated. At first she was cast out of her father's home, and had to take refuge elsewhere. When re-admitted, it was to be treated very much as an alien by him who had formerly been one of the fondest of fathers. The distance to the Parish church, and also to the Free, was great; so that the family and servants had to drive. She was forbidden a place in the family carriage, forbidden a place in the conveyance used by the servants; and year after year, in the heat of summer and cold of winter, the strange spectacle was seen of the once-loved daughter walking the long miles on foot, while the father, in his carriage, passed her on the road, and even the servants did not dare to interfere on her behalf. It was in vain that his own relatives, holding his own views on Church matters, remonstrated against such treatment. There was every reason to believe that he most sincerely thought he was doing God service.

XV. Keep the Lights Bright. MATT. v. 16,

your light so shine before men."

"Let

THE keeper of the lighthouse at Calais was boasting of the brightness of his lantern, which can be seen ten leagues at sea. A visitor said to him, "What if one of the

lights should chance to go out?" "Never! impossible!" he cried, horrified at the thought. "Sir," said he, pointing to the ocean, "yonder, where nothing can be seen, there are ships going by to all parts of the world. If to-night one of my burners went out, within six months would come a letter, perhaps from India, perhaps from America, perhaps from some place I never heard of, saying, Such a night, at such an hour, the light of Calais burned dim, the watchman neglected his post, and vessels were in danger! Ah, sir, sometimes in the dark nights, in stormy weather, I look out to sea, and feel as if the eyes of the whole world were looking at my light. Go out? burn dim? never!"

XVI.

Reconciliation.

MATT. V. 24.

ciled to thy brother."

"First be recon

ABOUT seven years ago, in a large prayer-meeting, I was urging every one present to put away every hindrance to an immediate personal transaction with God, in which the soul might find instant forgiveness. I saw a man leave his pew in a hurried, excited state, and go into the vestry. A messenger called two or three others to go into the same place. The man who first went shortly after came back to his seat, and the others returned to the pews where they had been sitting. At the close of the service I inquired into the reasons for the commotion, and I was told there had been a quarrel. That the first man who went was seeking peace with God, and could not find it until he had been reconciled to his offended brethren—and he had gone to seek reconciliation; that he had asked them to come into the vestry, sent for them, asked forgiveness and gave it, and that they were as glad as he to be friends again. Immediately on returning to his seat, the God of mercy met him, and He blessed him there.

XVII. The Jewish Brothers. MATT. v. 23.

"There

fore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

THE late Dr. Capadose, a converted Israelite and Christian

minister in Holland, used to relate the following touching incident: :

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"My worthy grandfather was a very affectionate but passionate man. He had a brother for whom he felt a tender love. They had once fallen into a dispute with each other, and had returned to their respective homes in a rage. This happened on a Friday. At the close of the day, when it began to grow dark, my good grandmother, like another Martha, began to make all things ready for the Sabbath. She called out, My beloved Joseph, it is already dark; come and light up the Sabbath lamp.' But he, sunk in profound sadness, paced the room backwards and forwards, to the increasing anxiety of the good old woman, who exclaimed, 'See! the stars are already in the firmament, and our Sabbath lamp is still dark.' My grandfather then took his hat and staff, and with visible perturbation hurried out of the house; but in a few minutes he returned with tears of joy in his eyes. Now, my beloved Rebecca,' cries he, 'now I am ready.' He offered up the prayer, and with evident feelings of delight kindled the lamp. He afterwards made known his dispute, adding, 'it was not possible for me to offer up the prayer and light the lamp before I was reconciled with Isaac.'

"But how came it to pass that you returned so quickly?' "Why,' said he, 'Isaac, like me, could not rest,-it was with him as it was with me, he also could not enter upon the Sabbath without being reconciled. We met each other in the street, he was coming to me, I was going to him,— we fell into each other's arms weeping.'

"When, many years after, I first read in the gospel of our Lord the words: 'Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift,' this event, which had affected me when a child, presented itself anew to my mind, and I thanked God that He had still left such indications of life amid so much death in that people who are my flesh and bones." XVIII. Blind Eyes. MATT. v. 29. "If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee."

A BLIND man was once asked if he had no desire that his

sight should be restored to him; he answered boldly, “No; because Jesus says, If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out.' God probably saw that mine eyes would offend me, so as to endanger my soul, and so He has prevented this great evil, by plucking them out Himself; and I thank Him for it." XIX. Afraid to Swear Alone. MATT. V. 34. "Swear

not at all."

THE wicked practice of swearing, which is so common as to offend the ear in every hotel, and almost in every street, is often mere bravado. Boys think it sounds manly to be profane, and men think it gives force and character to their sayings. Unlike most other vices, it is done openly, and is intended by the swearer for other people's ears. It is a public sin against God, and a public insult to all good men. The boldest blasphemers are often the greatest cowards. "I will give you ten shillings," said a man to a profane swearer, "if you will go into the village graveyard at twelve o'clock to-night and swear the same oaths you have uttered, when you are alone with God." "Agreed," said the man; "an easy way to make ten shillings." Well, come tomorrow, and say you have done it, and you shall have the money." Midnight came. It was a night of great darkness. As he entered the cemetery, not a sound was heard; all was still as death. The gentleman's words came to his mind. "Alone with God!" rang in his ears. He did not dare to utter an oath, but fled from the place, crying, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"

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XX. The Beautiful Text. MATT. V. 44. “I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you.” WHEN Dr. Duff read to the intelligent youth for the first time this precept of the Saviour, one of them could not restrain himself from speaking out his feelings: "Oh, how beautiful!" For days and weeks he could not cease repeating, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you' How beautiful! surely this must be the truth!"

XXI.

My Enemy. MATT. V. 44. "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” A SLAVE, who had by the force of his sterling worth risen

high in the confidence of his master, saw one day, trembling in the slave market, a negro, whose grey head and bent form showed him to be in the last weakness of old age. He implored his master to purchase him. He expressed his surprise, but gave his consent. The old man was bought and conveyed to the estate. When there, he who had pleaded for him took him to his own cabinplaced him in his own bed; fed him at his own board; gave him water from his own cup; when he shivered, carried him into the sunshine; when he drooped in the heat, bore him softly to the shade. "What is the meaning of all that?" asked a witness. "Is he your father?" "No." "Is he your brother?" "No." "No." "Is he, then, your friend?" "No; he is my enemy. Years ago he stole me from my native village, and sold me for a slave; and the good Lord has said, 'If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.""

XXII. Praying for the Persecutor.

MATT. v. 44.

"Pray for them which... persecute you."

AT the time of the Disruption, the Rev. Duncan M'Gillivray, of Lairg, was eighty years of age. The only house in the parish to which he could retire was the cottage of a widowed daughter, the use of which had been given her by the Duke of Sutherland. The week before Mr. M'Gillivray left the manse, Mr. Gunn, the factor, called for Mrs. Henderson, and gave her significant hints as to the inexpediency of her father's going to the cottage. At last she put the question

"Do you mean, Mr. Gunn, that I am not to admit my own father into my house when he has no other place to go to?"

His answer was—

"Just that, Mrs. Henderson."

And her reply was, that so long as she was there, her father should share her cottage.

Soon after he came to be her guest, Mr. Taylor, the Duke's law-agent, called for him, and said twice, and very significantly,

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"Mr. M'Gillivray, I wish you to know that Mr. Gunn